Living upon Creator fulness

Although the fig tree shall not blossom, neither shall fruit be in the vines; the labour of the olive shall fail, and the fields shall yield no meat; the flock shall be cut off from the fold, and there shall be no herd in the stalls: yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will joy in the God of my salvation. Habakkuk 3:17-18.

“See, my soul, in the prophet’s example, the blessedness of living above creature enjoyments, by living upon Creator fulness. Here is a sun, which never goes down! Here is a fountain, whose streams can never dry up! He that lives upon creature excellency, will want both food and comfort when that excellency dies, for they must die with it, when the period of its flourishing is over. But the soul that draws all from Jesus, the God of his salvation, will have Jesus and his salvation to live upon, and to be an everlasting source, when nature, in all its varieties, ceases to supply. My soul, what are thy resources for a day of famine? Canst thou join issue with the prophet? If blasting, or mildew, or frost, shall nip the fig-tree of its blossom; both the vine and the olive fail; yea, if the staff of life, as well as the sweets of life, should all be gone; hast thou Jesus to live upon; canst thou rejoice in him, when there is nothing else left to rejoice in; and call him thine, and the God of thy salvation, when none will own thee, and thou hast none beside him to own?

“They say that music upon the waters always sounds best. Be this so or not, yet the melody of the soul is certainly sweetest when nature is out of tune, if the believer can take his harp from the willow, and sing aloud on the tribulated waters of sorrow, to the God of salvation. And this is a song never out of season, but has peculiar joy in the note, when from a new strung heart, the believer sings it of the God of his salvation, and addresses it to the God of his salvation. Blessed Lord Jesus! Give me grace, like the prophet, so to sing and so to triumph, that since, lose what I may, I cannot lose thee, while thy creature comforts remain, I may enjoy them, from enjoying thee in them: and when all are taken away, still, having thee for my portion, may I sing aloud with the prophet, though all earthly enjoyments cease, ‘I will still rejoice in the Lord, I will joy in the God of my salvation.’”

Robert Hawker (1753-1827)

Godliness and contentment

“But godliness with contentment is great gain,” 1 Timothy 6:7

By definition, ‘godliness’, means ‘God-fearing’ or revering. The problem with our generation is that ‘there is no fear of God before their eyes,’ Romans 2:18. True God fearing begins with the revelation of His character and attributes as revealed by the Spirit of God in the Word -- Proverbs 9:10. It continues with the revelation of God’s mercy and justice being met together in Christ Jesus (typified by the mercy seat with the blood) -- Psalm 32:6. David pleads not his innocence before God, but the forgiveness of God based on the non-imputing of sin to his account, as grievous as it was -- v. 2. Romans 3:25 uses the term --‘the forbearance of God,’ toward sin yet to be remitted. In Psalm 32:6, the word ‘godly’ has a Hebrew root meaning of ‘mercy.’ Therefore, true godliness is not out of any walk, character, or conduct obligating God to bless, but rather an acknowledgement in humility of one’s constant need for mercy, based on a just satisfaction by the Substitute, Jesus Christ -- e.g. the publican -- Luke 18:13.

The contentment that comes from this revelation of God’s mercy in Christ Jesus is the satisfaction of needing or wanting nothing else than Jesus blood and righteousness as ALL our salvation, redemption, justification, and sanctification. Ye are complete in Him -- Colossians 2:10. -- Ken Wimer, Shreveport Grace Church bulletin, February 11, 2007